Jane Farrelly's Death

Dear All

Please find below a statement from the Jane Farrelly's family in relation to the recent decision by Taupo police not to prosecute the Transpower Truck Driver.

All New Zealanders should be concerned by serious shortcomings in the police decision not to charge anyone over the fatal crash that claimed the life of Auckland cyclist Jane Farrelly.

Jane - a mother of two - was killed on March 16 while cycling near Taupo with her husband and a group of friends. She was struck by a Transpower truck, and died at the scene.

The accident prompted nationwide calls for greater protection for cyclists; and the need for more care and concern from passing motorists.

Today’s announcement by police that no action will be taken against the driver has left Jane's family and friends stunned and distraught.

We now have to question whether investigating officers pursued this important case with an open mind.

The decision not to prosecute suggests police are blaming Jane, even though the driver has admitted making an illegal manoeuvre at the time of impact. (He has acknowledged passing the cyclists in a yellow lined area.) Eyewitness reports suggest Jane moved slightly out of single file at the time of the accident. But she was not event at two abreast level. If the driver had observed the 1.5 metre passing rule, Jane would not have been hit.

We are deeply concerned that witness statements provided by cyclists who witnessed the accident, appear to have been ignored. And we wonder why police have failed to act on a statement from a second group of cyclists.

This group reported the same vehicle passing them in a dangerously close manoeuvre shortly before the fatal accident.

The police investigating Jane’s tragic and untimely death had an opportunity to send an important message to all drivers about the need to respect the law and other road users.

Their failure to enforce the law is inexplicable and disheartening

ENDS

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